Automatic match and toothpick box



Aug. 12. 1924. 7 1,504,599 r J. A. P. BLACKWOOD AUTOMATIC MATCH AND TOOTHPICK BOX F iled Sent. 15. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. A. P. BLACKWOOD AUTOMATIC MATCH AND TOOTHPICK BOX Filed Sept. 15 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1224,

STATES JOHN a r. B AcKwooD, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

, aurolvrnrro Marc AND roorrrrron BOX.

Application filed September T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. P. BLACK- woon, a subject of". the King of England,

residin at New York, in the county of New ork and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Match and Toothpick Box, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to an improved automatic match and toothpick dispensing box.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a box which will provide a quantity of matches or tOOtllplCkS ttlid'Wl11Cl1 may be operated to dispense a single toothpick or match at one operation.

Other objects will appear upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation,

Figure 2 is a the device,

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure2,

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2. r

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the receptacle 1, in the present instance, is cylindrical in formation and forms a container within which is arranged the matches and the mechanism for ejecting the same. Mounted upon the coil springs 2 is a tray 3 in which the matches are placed on their ends. The bundle of matches or toothpicks is held in upright position by the spring bands 4 and 5. Each band is of resilient material and springs 6 and 7 are attached. to the bands and have, their ends connected to the ends of spring band as shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings. The bands are held in the proper spaced relation by the supporting arms 8 and 9 attached to the sides of the recepvertical' section through tacle.

The top of the receptacle is provided with an opening normally closed by hinged cap 10 and the opening is also fitted with a neck 11 having a restricted opening 12 in its lower end through which the ejected match is projected when operated. This dpening 12 is normally closed by a movable plate 13 adapted to laterally slide 15, 1923. Serial No. 662,953;

across the opening: 12 when the mechanism is operated. *An'bperating rod 14 is vertically; mounted in the container and the upper end projects above the top of the container and isprovided with a thumb-press 15 whereby the rod may be pressed downwardly. The lower end of the rod 14 is con'nectedto an operating lever 16 pivotally mounted as indicated at 17, and having itsopposite end connected to the plunger 18 which passes through an opening in the bottom of the tray 3. An abutment member 19 is provided in the magazine through which the rod 14 is adapted to move, and a coil spring 20 is interposed between the abutment member 19 and the lower end of the rod to return the rod to its original position after being thrust downwardly.

When the rod is thrust downwardly the lever 16 will be operated to thrust the plunger 18 upwardly, whereby one of the matches or the equivalent of toothpicks will be thrust upwardly through the bundle.

To operate the sliding plate 13 for opening the'opening 12, a bell crank lever 21 is provided which has one end connected to a coil spring 22 attached to the sliding plate 13. The opposite end of the lever 21 is joined to the rod 14 as indicated at 23, so that downward pressure of the rod will impart movement to the bell crank lever 21 for actuating the spring whereby the plate 13 will be withdrawn from over the opening 12, permitting the match or toothpick to be thrust upwardly through the top of the container when the cover 10 is opened.

Tension springs 24 and 25 have their ends attached to the springs 6 and 7, their opposite ends joined to the rod 14 and lever 16 as indicated at 25 and 26 to maintain the springs under a tension so that the bundle of matches will be firmly held in compact form as indicated by the illustration in Figure 3. When one of the matches or toothpicks is to be ejected from the container, the cover 10 will be opened and a pressure will be exerted on the upper end of the rod so that it will be pressed downwardly. This will impart movement to the operating lever 16 which will thrust the plunger 18 upwardly and engage the end of one of the matches or toothpicks whereby it will be pressed upwardly through the bundle. The crank lever 21 will, at the same time, operate to open the opening 12 by withdrawing the plate 13 to permit the match or toothpick to extend upwardly through the portion 11, whereupon it may be grasped by the fingers and withdrawn from' the cabinet.

Minor changes may be made in the details" of construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

What I claim is: 1; A 7 device of the character described comprising a cabinet, a tray arranged within the cabinet to receive a bundle of matches or toothpieks, spring bands adapted to surround the bundle of matches or toothpicks, a plunger element having one end normally located in an opening at the bottom of the said tray beneath the said bundle, and manually operated means to exert an upward thrust on the said plunger.

the opening, and means for closing the said opening'when operating rod is actuated.

j 3. A device of the character described comprising a cabinet, a tray arranged within the cabinet, a plunger having one end located in an opening in the center of the tray, an operating rod, a lever connected to the said operating rod and to the said plunger whereby the latter will be thrust upwardly when the operating rod is actuated, spring bands adapted to embrace a bundle of matches or toothpicks arranged in the said tray, spring means connected to the said spring bands for maintaining the spring bands under a tension whereby the said bundle will be compactly held in the said tray.

4. A device of the character described comprising a cabinet, a tray arranged within the cabinet, a plunger having one end located in an opening in the center of the tray, an operating rod, a lever connected to the said operating rod and to the said plunger whereby the latter will be thrust upwardly when the operating rod is actuated, spring bands adapted to embrace a bundle of matches or 'toothpicks arranged in the said tray, spring means connected to the said spring bands for maintaining the spring bands under a tension whereby the said bundle will be compactly held in the said tray, the said cabinet being provided with a discharge neck having a discharge opening, a plate normally closing said opening, and means connected to said plate and to said operating rod whereby the said discharge opening will be simultaneously opened when the said plunger element is actuated.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

7 JOHN A. P. BLACKWOOD. 

